$2.4 million approved for Hudson County open space projects

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner holds a rendering of the town's Pier B restoration and the 17-acre waterfront complex project. Weehawken was awarded $500,000 dollars from the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders for the restoration of Pier B, which will be a public walkway and allow for fishing. (Courtesy of Mayor Richard Turner)Sarah Nathan/ The Jersey Journal

The Hudson County freeholders board has approved $2.4 million for open space improvement projects, with more than half of the funds going toward one of Hudson County's defining features: its shoreline.

Roughly $1.25 million of the money from the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation funding is earmarked for public waterfront recreation projects in North Bergen, Guttenberg, Weehawken and Bayonne.

In Bayonne, $250,000 was allocated for the Riverfront Greenway along Newark Bay. The funds will go toward connecting a walkway behind the Zito Building on 23rd street with one behind Veteran's Stadium on 25th street.

"The ultimate goal would be to have walkways going around the city of Bayonne, so this is a positive development,” said city spokesman Joe Ryan. “It was something we put in for and we're glad it was approved.”

Weehawken plans to restore a public-access pier, destroyed in 1993, that borders a two-acre waterfront park. Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said this is a project that has been in the works for about 15 years.

“Actually, I think it's been talked about so much people have forgotten about it," Turner said.

He said the money for the pier, which amounts to $500,000, will be paired with a $2.5 million combination grant and loan from the state Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres program. The funds will expand upon preexisting amenities and to construct a 17-acre waterfront complex.

"This is a tremendous amenity for Weehawken and many other neighboring towns,” Turner said.

North Bergen, in partnership with Guttenberg, also received $500,000 to construct a waterfront park the two towns will share. The park will feature an amphitheater, unobstructed views of Manhattan and open green space.

"This waterfront park will be an excellent addition of open space to the area for residents to enjoy," said North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco in a statement. "It's a great project and I am excited to see it continue to move forward."

Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff said that while the town has been talking about a small park project for more than six years, teaming up with North Bergen was an ideal situation.

“Had we been a little faster it wouldn't have been as good as it's turning out now,” Drasheff said. “We're able to still put all that stuff in but you've got a much more expansive green space. This is a case where the whole is much bigger than the two parts.”

Drasheff also said the money from the freeholders comes at an opportune time.

“The timing of all of this I perfect because our bids are due next week,” he said. “And we're anticipating with the money we were awarded that we will have enough money to completely fund phase two.”